Apparatus and method for positioning a tubular relative to a tong

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for positioning a tubular relative to a tong is provided. In one aspect, a positioning tool may be mounted on a lower portion of the tong. The positioning tool includes a positioning member for determining a position of the tubular and a centering member for engaging the tubular. The positioning tool further includes an actuation device for actuating the centering member. The position of the tubular may be actively adjusted by actuating the centering member.

We claim:  
     
       1. A method for positioning a tubular relative to a tong, comprising: 
       moving the tong towards the tubular until a positioning member contacts the tubular and the positioning member is moved into a predetermined position; and  
       actuating a centering member until it contacts the tubular.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining an axial position of a tubular joint of the tubular. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising moving the tong vertically. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the axial position of the tubular joint comprises detecting a distance to the tubular. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising moving the tong until a support member engages the positioning member. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising determining an axial position of a tubular joint of the tubular. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the tubular is positioned in a center position relative to a gripping apparatus of the tong. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the tubular is centered front-to-back relative to the gripping apparatus of the tong. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for positioning a tubular relative to a tong, comprising: 
       a positioning member for establishing a position of the tubular relative to the tong and for engaging the tubular;  
       a centering member for adjusting the position of the tubular relative to the tong; and  
       a support member cooperating with the centering member and for engaging the positioning member when the tubular is centered relative to the tong.  
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the tubular is centered front-to-back relative to a gripping apparatus of the tong. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a joint detection member. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the joint detection member comprises a proximity sensor. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the centering member is coupled to the positioning member. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the positioning member and the centering member cooperate to center the tubular. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising an actuating member connected to the centering member. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a biasing member for coupling the positioning member to the centering member. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a joint detection member. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the joint detection member comprises a proximity sensor. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the proximity sensor is disposed in a housing of the positioning member. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus for positioning a tubular relative to a tong, comprising: 
       an engagement member for establishing a position of the tubular relative to the tong and for engaging the tubular, wherein the engagement member adjusts the position of the tubular relative to the tong;  
       an actuating member operatively connected to the engagement member, wherein the actuating member is coupled to the engagement member, the engagement member and the actuating member cooperate to center the tubular, and  
       a support member; and  
       a biasing member for coupling the engagement member to the actuating member.  
     
     
       21. An apparatus for positioning a tubular relative to a tong, comprising: 
       an engagement member for establishing a position of the tubular relative to the tong and for engaging the tubular, wherein the engagement member adjusts the position of the tubular relative to the tong;  
       an actuating member operatively connected to the engagement member, wherein the actuating member is coupled to the engagement member, the engagement member and the actuating member cooperate to center the tubular, and a distal end of the engagement and actuating members comprises a gripping member;  
       a support member; and  
       a biasing member for coupling the engagement member to the actuating member. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the gripping member comprises a roller. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the distal end further comprises a housing for maintaining the gripping member. 
     
     
       24. An apparatus for positioning a tubular relative to a tong, comprising: 
       an engagement member for establishing a position of the tubular relative to the tong and for engaging the tubular, wherein the engagement member adjusts the position of the tubular relative to the tong;  
       an actuating member operatively connected to the engagement member, wherein the actuating member is coupled to the engagement member, the engagement member and the actuating member cooperate to center the tubular;  
       a support member; and  
       a joint detection member, wherein the joint detection member comprises a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor is disposed in a housing of the engagement member, and the housing is movable relative to the tong. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein moving the housing tilts the proximity sensor away from the tubular. 
     
     
       26. An apparatus for positioning a tubular relative to a tong, comprising: 
       a first member for determining a position of the tubular; and  
       a second member for engaging the tubular, wherein the first member and the second member are movable to position the tubular in the center of the tong and the first member is independently movable relative to the second member.  
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising a support member, wherein the support member and the first member are rotatable about the same axis. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising a joint detection member. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the joint detection member comprises a proximity sensor. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the joint detection member is attached to the first member. 
     
     
       31. An apparatus for gripping a tubular, comprising: 
       a tong comprising one or more jaws; and  
       a positioning apparatus for centering the tubular relative to the one or more jaws, the positioning apparatus comprising:  
       a first member for determining a positioning of the tubular;  
       a second member for engaging the tubular, wherein the first member and the second member are movable to position the tubular in the center of the one or more jaws, wherein the first member is independently movable relative to the second member, and the first member is coupled to the second member using a biasing member; and  
       a support member, wherein the support member and the second member are rotatable about the same axis.  
     
     
       32. The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the first member is actuatable by a piston and cylinder assembly. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the first member and the second member further comprises one or more gripping means.